Who鈥檚 going to replace one of the greatest coaches in Grand Valley State women鈥檚 soccer history?
ALLENDALE, Mich. (BVM) — On June 14 Michigan State University Vice President and Athletics Director Bill Beekman announced that the new head coach of their women鈥檚 soccer team would be Jeff Hosler.聽 After seven seasons as head coach of the Grand Valley State Lakers, Hosler posted the highest win percentage out of any coach in Lakers history. With a resume that includes six elite eight appearances, five national championship game appearances, and three national championships, Hosler has submitted himself as one of the elite coaches in the sport.聽
Hosler capped off this past season in historic fashion. The No. 4-seeded Lakers became the first team in tournament history to win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) tournament championship as a non-top seeded team. This victory came after a year that saw players go in and out of the lineup due to COVID-19. With the 2020 season cut short, the Lakers still came out poised to compete in the 2021 spring tournament.
Coming into the 2021 season, players were forced to adapt to a shorter schedule which would result in more work being done in order to repeat as champions. However, the cancelation of the 2020 season allowed for players to develop their game.聽
聽With no NCAA tournament, the Lakers finished the GLIAC tournament with a 6-1-1 record with the championship game against Northern Michigan being decided by one of GV鈥檚 most notable stars, Ava Cook. Cook, who scored two goals in her final game as a Laker, was coming off a historic season as a junior before the cancelation of the 2020 season. In 2019, she led the league in goals (29) and points (70) along with being voted unanimously as a first team All-American. GV would go on to tie the record for most wins in a season going 25-1 en route to a National Championship that year making it the programs sixth title; a NCAA Division II record.聽
With Hosler鈥檚 departure, GV must prepare to hire a coach that can lead them to another national championship. There is no word on who the person will be, However, with this recent victory, the Lakers are poised to be a great team once again. In the upcoming season, GV will be led by four seniors and four juniors which gives them the advantage in experience above all else.聽
However with a record of 144-12-6 under Hosler, it will be a task for GV to hire a predecessor for one of, if not the greatest coaches in the program’s history. Only time will tell if they find the right person to lead this team into the future, but for now, fans are anxious to see who that person will be.
